Adaptive antenna for channel selection management in communications systems

ABSTRACT

The disclosure concerns a communication system where adaptive antenna systems with algorithm are used to provide improved channel selection management in Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and other multi-node communication systems. The adaptive antenna systems can be integrated into multiple nodes of a communication network, such as access points used in WLAN, and multiple radiation modes generated and tracked to determine optimal mode for access point to client communication links to assist in channel selection across the nodes in the network. Adaptive antenna system modes are selected and Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) is measured across available frequency channels to determine channels to assign per access point along with radiation modes to be implemented that results in improved SNR for the communication links established in the network.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation in part (CIP) of U.S. Ser. No.15/423,572, filed Feb. 2, 2017, which further claims benefit of U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/290,422, filed Feb. 2, 2016; theentire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to the field of wireless communication;and more particularly, to an adaptive antenna system for improvedchannel selection management in wireless local area network (WLAN) andother multi-node communication systems.

Description of the Related Art

WLAN has been adopted across homes and businesses in most regions of theworld, with a large number of client devices such as smartphones,laptops, and tablets capable of WLAN reception. More recently, WLAN hasbeen adopted for high throughput applications such as video streamingfor in-building applications. These devices require good performancefrom the RF radio and antenna system to ensure quality operation; andthese devices increase the number of WLAN antenna systems and RFsignaling encountered in businesses, apartment buildings, andneighborhoods. The requirement for increased data rates to support alarger number of users and video applications points towards a need forhigher orders of modulation in the transmitted signal, which in turnplaces a requirement on improved levels of Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR)or Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio (SINR), collectively“metrics”, to support the higher modulation rates. Specifically, bettercontrol of the radiated field from the antenna system associated withthe access point will be required to provide better communication linkquality for an antenna system tasked to provide higher throughput and amore reliable link.

Due to range limitations of electromagnetic (EM) signals propagatingin-building at the WLAN frequency bands, it is becoming more common tohave multiple access points configured in a network to providecontinuous wireless service. WLAN internal roaming involves a situationwherein a wireless device moves the connection from one access point toanother within a Wi-Fi network because the signal strength from theoriginal access point gets too weak. The wireless device may include analgorithm to periodically monitor the presence of alternative accesspoints, which may provide a better connection, and to re-associateitself with an access point having a stronger signal. However, due tothe complex nature of radio propagation, it is difficult to predictWi-Fi signal strength for a given area in relation to a transmitter. Inmany instances, the line of sight between a transmitter and a receiverinvolved in the communication becomes blocked or shadowed with obstaclessuch as walls, trees and other objects. Each signal bounce may introducephase shifts, time delays, attenuations and distortions, each of whichultimately interferes at the receiving antenna. Destructive interferencein the wireless link is problematic and results in degradation of deviceperformance. A signal quality metric is often used to assess the qualityof signals. Examples of such quality metrics, as introduced above, mayinclude signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), signal to interference-plus-noiseratio (SINR), receive signal strength indicator (RSSI), bit error rate(BER) and various other metrics, which are called channel qualityindicators (CQI).

Increasing the number of access points in a Wi-Fi network generallyprovides network redundancy and support for fast roaming by definingsmaller cells. However, Wi-Fi connections may be disrupted and/orinternet speed may be lowered due to interference by having too manydevices in the same area connected to one access point. When multipleaccess points are used in a system to provide WLAN coverage for abuilding a standard technique is to assign a different channel(frequency) to adjacent access points to reduce interference betweenaccess points. With finite frequency bandwidth available at the 2.4 GHzand 5 GHz WLAN bands and a set number of available channels thefrequency separation that can be achieved between adjacent access pointsis typically not large enough to eliminate the out-of-channel roll-offin frequency components radiated by one access point from interferingwith a neighboring access point. This interference is typicallymanifested in a decrease in SINR at the receive port of the neighboringaccess point, which results in reduced modulation scheme that can besupported, and which translates into a reduction in data throughput.With wireless devices commonly configured with one or more antennas,with these antennas being passive antennas which have a fixed radiationpattern (i.e. one radiation pattern), the antenna system cannot be usedas a tool to improve SINR of the access point when interfering signalsare present. This situation leads to a sub-optimal traffic, with qualityof service (QOS) offered to the users not optimized.

Commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 7,911,402; U.S. Pat. No. 8,362,962; U.S.Pat. No. 8,648,755; and U.S. Pat. No. 9,240,634; the entire contents ofeach of which is hereby incorporated by reference, each describes a beamsteering technique wherein a single antenna is capable of generatingmultiple radiating modes, wherein the single antenna exhibits a distinctradiation pattern in each of the plurality of possible modes. This iseffectuated with the use of offset parasitic elements that alter thecurrent distribution on the driven antenna as the reactive load on theparasitic is varied. This beam steering technique, where multiple modesare generated, is referred to as a “modal antenna technique”, and anantenna configured to alter radiating modes in this fashion will bereferred to here as a “modal antenna”. This antenna architecture solvesthe problem associated with a lack of volume in mobile devices and smallcommercial communication devices to accommodate antenna arrays needed toimplement more traditional beam steering hardware.

This modal antenna technique can be implemented in access points andclient devices in WLAN systems and used to improve communication linkperformance for these networks. On the access point side of the linkwhen multi-user operation is required the capability of optimizing theradiation pattern of the antennas in access point will be key tooptimize link performance. Compared to a passive antenna used with anaccess point, the modal antenna can provide improved antenna gainperformance in the direction of client devices by sampling the multipleradiation modes of the modal antenna and selecting the mode thatprovides improved system gain per client. The increased antenna systemgain from the modal antenna will translate into an increase in Signal toNoise Ratio (SNR), which in turn will translate into a higher ordermodulation scheme that can be supported for higher data throughput.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a four radiation pattern modes of a single modalantenna.

FIG. 2 illustrates a communication system comprising a networkcontroller, two access points including a first access point labeled“AP1” and a second access point labeled “AP2”, and four client devicesconnected wirelessly to the two access points.

FIG. 3 illustrates a plot of channel utilization for three accesspoints, with the three access points labeled “AP1”, “AP2”, and “AP3”.

FIG. 4 illustrates a plot of channel utilization for three accesspoints, with the three access points labeled “AP1”, “AP2”, and “AP3”.

FIG. 5 illustrates a noise matrix for each access point in acommunication system, where the access point and one or multiple clientdevices contain adaptive antenna systems.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart of a process to optimize channelselection per access point or node in a communication system, along withselection of optimal active steering modes for the adaptive antennas.

FIG. 7 illustrates a plot of channel utilization for four access pointslabeled “AP1”, “AP2”, “AP3”, and “AP4”.

FIG. 8 shows a network communication system for servicing wirelesscommunication links between each of a plurality of client devices and anetwork, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

This disclosure concerns an adaptive antenna system that providesmultiple radiation modes that can be sampled and selected to improvecommunication link performance in WLAN and other communication systems.This adaptive antenna system provides an additional parametric that canbe used to optimize noise levels in receivers within access points, andother transceivers implemented in communication systems, to providehigher SINR levels which in turn will translate into higher datathroughput, and more reliability in maintaining communication links inmultipath and dynamic environments.

In an embodiment, an adaptive antenna capable of generating a pluralityof radiation modes is combined with an algorithm which implements asampling process that selects an optimal radiation mode for the intendedcommunication link. This technique is well suited for implementation inWLAN systems where multiple access points are tasked to provide coveragein a specific region and interference between access points needs to beaddressed. With the capability of changing radiation modes of theantenna system used with the access points this technique can be used toimprove SINR levels in the access points in a system by selecting modesthat decrease signal strength levels in the direction of adjacent nodes.This capability of changing radiation modes of the antenna system alsoimpact the way adjacent channels are interfering on each other.Therefore using this technique on either (i) only the devices, (ii) onlythe access point(s), or (iii) on both the devices and access point(s)provides extra degrees of freedom in the channel assignment process, inorder to maximize the overall network performances.

In one embodiment, a communication system comprised of two nodes (accesspoints), with each node containing a transceiver and antenna system, isused to provide wireless communication in a defined region. An exampleof this type of system is a WLAN system consisting of two access points(nodes) to provide wireless coverage in-building. The first access pointoperates on channel A while the second access point operates on channelB, with channels A and B occupying different portions of the frequencyspectrum. The first access point in the system contains an adaptiveantenna system with this adaptive antenna system defined as an antennacapable of generating multiple radiation modes (capable of beam steeringor null steering), while the second access point contains a passiveantenna system which has a fixed radiation pattern. Each radiation modeof the adaptive antenna system has a radiation pattern associated withit, with these radiation patterns varying between the modes in terms ofradiation pattern shape and/or polarization properties. A candidateantenna for the adaptive antenna is a modal antenna, with the modalantenna being capable of generating multiple radiation patterns from asingle port antenna. A network controller is implemented to command andcontrol the network of access points. An algorithm is resident in acomputer in the network controller with this algorithm tasked to controlthe radiation modes of the adaptive antenna system in the first accesspoint, for example, by switching on/off or adjusting a reactance ofactive components, such as switches, tunable capacitors, tunableinductors and the like. The communication link quality between the twoaccess points and each client in the system is measured and stored inmemory. The algorithm implemented with the adaptive antenna provides thecapability of surveying a channel quality indicator (CQI) metric such asSignal to Interference and Noise Ratio (SINR), Receive SignalSensitivity Indicator (RSSI), Modulation Coding Scheme (MCS), or similarmetric obtained from the baseband processor of the communication systemto provide the capability to sample radiation patterns and make adecision in regards to operating on the optimal radiation pattern ormode based on the CQI. The optimization can be performed to improve SINRof the second access point by selecting radiation modes for the adaptiveantenna system associated with the first access point as the firstaccess point communicates with the clients in the system. Though the twoaccess points are operating on different channels there is a finiteamount of roll-off in frequency response that occurs, with some residualout-of-band frequency components from the first access point couplinginto the receive port of the second access point. The optimization canbe performed by the first access point, for example, by selectinganother channel and monitoring the signal quality metrics describedpreviously, such as the SINR, etc., for the different antennas' modes ofall the devices connected to this access point.

The improvement in SINR occurs when modes of the adaptive antenna areselected that service an intended client while coupling less power intothe receive port of the second access point. The result will be improvedthroughput, range, and capacity for communication links establishedbetween the second access point and clients in the system.

In another embodiment, the communication system as previously describedis implemented where adaptive antenna systems are incorporated in boththe first and second access points. The algorithm resident in a computerin the network controller is tasked to control the radiation modes ofthe adaptive antenna systems in the first and second access points. Thefirst access point operates on channel A while the second access pointoperates on channel B, with channels A and B occupying differentportions of the frequency spectrum. The optimization can be performed toimprove SINR of the first and second access points by selectingradiation modes for the adaptive antenna systems associated with each ofthe first and second access points, respectively, as the access pointscommunicate with the clients in the system.

In another embodiment, a plurality of access points are fielded in acommunication system, with a plurality of these access points containingadaptive antenna systems. The algorithm resident in the networkcontroller is tasked to control all adaptive antenna systems in thenetwork, with the goal being to increase SINR in the receive ports ofall access points in the system by selecting radiation modes that thecouple least from one access point to adjacent access point ascommunication links are established between access points and clients.

In another embodiment, a plurality of access points, as well as aplurality of clients, are each configured with adaptive antenna systems,to provide multiple radiation modes on both ends of the communicationlinks established in the network. The algorithm resident in the networkcontroller is tasked to control all adaptive antenna systems in thenetwork, with the goal being to increase SINR in the receive ports ofall access points in the system by selecting radiation modes that coupleleast from one access point to adjacent access point as communicationlinks are established between access points and clients. The adaptiveantenna systems on the client devices provide an additional parameter toadjust during the optimization process.

In yet another embodiment, a plurality of access points are fielded in acommunication system, with a plurality of these access points containingadaptive antenna systems, with at least two access points adjacent toeach other operating on the same channel. The algorithm resident in thenetwork controller operates in the same fashion as previously described,with the end result being improved SINR in the receive ports of allaccess points in the system by selecting radiation modes that the coupleleast from one access point to adjacent access point as communicationlinks are established between access points and clients.

The algorithm described in the previously mentioned embodiments isconfigured to survey the radiation modes of all adaptive antenna systemsin the network. The communication link quality between all adaptiveantenna enabled access points, and each client in the system, ismeasured and stored in memory. The algorithm implemented with theadaptive antenna provides the capability of surveying a channel qualityindicator (CQI) metric such as Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio(SINR), Receive Signal Sensitivity Indicator (RSSI), Modulation CodingScheme (MCS), or similar metric obtained from the baseband processor ofthe communication system to provide the capability to sample radiationpatterns and make a decision in regards to operating on the optimalradiation pattern or mode based on the CQI. The optimization can beperformed to improve SINR of the communication links established betweenaccess points and clients in the network by selecting radiation modesfor the adaptive antenna systems associated with access points andclients in the system. The algorithm populates a noise matrix for eachaccess point in the network that has an adaptive antenna system coupledto it. A measure of average noise for each communication link between anaccess point and clients in the network is performed and these noisevalues are stored in the noise matrix. The noise matrix associated witheach access point in the network is surveyed by the algorithm, andradiation mode states are selected for the adaptive antenna systems forthe access points, for access point/client pairs, such that the noiselevels in receivers within the access points and clients, respectively,are minimized. The noise matrix is updated on a continuous basis toaccount for changes in the propagation channel and channel changes atthe access points.

Now turning to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a four radiation patternmodes of a single modal antenna. The modal antenna is capable ofgenerating multiple radiation patterns (shown are four, but can bemore). The four radiation modes shown provide peak gain coverage in 4distinct directions (D1; D2; D3; and D4).

FIG. 2 illustrates a communication system comprising a networkcontroller, two access points including a first access point labeled“AP1” and a second access point labeled “AP2”, and four client devicesconnected wirelessly to the two access points. Each access pointrecognizes all devices; however, system throughput is optimized byconfiguring a “mode” of the adaptive antenna systems of each accesspoint, respectfully, such that the mode discriminates against unintendedlinks (for example, a null in the radiation pattern of the particularselected mode is pointed in the direction of a client device for whichlink is not desired), and further such that the mode prioritizes linkcommunication with intended client devices (for example, a gain maximaof the radiation pattern is steered toward a client device for whichlink is desired). Here, the first access point (AP1) is configured in afirst mode, wherein the first mode is one which establishes gain in thedirection of intended clients (Device 1 and Device 3) while concurrentlyexcluding link with unintended client devices (Device 2 and Device 4).Note, however, that the second access point (AP2) is configured in asecond mode such that link is established with intended clients (Device2 and Device 4) while the mode concurrently discriminates link withunintended clients (Device 1 and Device 3). In this regard, all devices(Devices 1-4) are services on the network, however, throughput is evenlyspread among access points and devices on the network, and accomplishedby the control provided by network controller to configure the adaptiveantenna systems of the first and second access points.

FIG. 3 illustrates a plot of channel utilization for three accesspoints, with the three access points labeled “AP1”, “AP2”, and “AP3”.The frequency response for each access point is shown along with theSINR. As can be seen in the plot, the effective noise floor of eachaccess point is limited or set by the frequency components generated bythe other access points in the communication system. The antenna systemsutilized with these three access points contain traditional passiveantennas, which possess a single radiation mode or radiation pattern foreach passive antenna (as opposed to multiple reconfigurable antennamodes of a modal antenna).

FIG. 4 illustrates a plot of channel utilization for three accesspoints, with the three access points labeled “AP1”, “AP2”, and “AP3”.The three access points have adaptive antenna systems, with theseadaptive antenna systems capable of generating multiple radiation modes,wherein the antenna system produces a distinct radiation pattern in whenconfigured in each of the plurality of modes. The frequency response foreach access point is shown along with the SINR of three adaptivesteering modes generated by the adaptive antenna system of each accesspoint. With the active steering modes providing a different radiationpattern and/or polarization state from the adaptive antenna system, theSINR will vary from one mode to the next. The mode which provides thehighest SINR can be selected and used for communication between accesspoint and client device, providing improved communication performance.Furthermore, the adaptive steering modes can be surveyed for multiplechannels for each access point and channel selection for the accesspoints can be performed in conjunction with the adaptive steering modeselection. The result will be improved SINR performance at each accesspoint due to improved frequency response roll-off when optimal channelselection and adaptive steering mode selection is performed.

FIG. 5 illustrates a noise matrix for each access point in acommunication system, where the access point and one or multiple clientdevices contain adaptive antenna systems. The average noise level in thereceiver of the access point as well as in the receivers of the clientdevices can be determined as the active steering modes of the adaptiveantenna systems are sampled. This noise matrix provides a data base tosurvey when selecting optimal channels for access points in the systemand adaptive steering modes for use per client.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart of a process to optimize channelselection per access point or node in a communication system, along withselection of optimal active steering modes for the adaptive antennas.

FIG. 7 illustrates a plot of channel utilization for four access pointslabeled “AP1”, “AP2”, “AP3”, and “AP4”. The frequency response for eachaccess point is shown, with “AP1” and “AP4” operating on the samechannel. The optimal active steering mode is shown for the frequencyresponse of each access point.

FIG. 8 shows a network communication system for servicing wirelesscommunication links between each of a plurality of client devices 31;32; 33; 34 and a network, respectively. The network communication systemfor servicing wireless communication links between each of a pluralityof client devices and a network, respectively, may comprise: a firstaccess point 10, a second access point 20, and a network controller 40.The first access point may include an adaptive antenna system 100associated therewith, the adaptive antenna system being configurable inone of a plurality of possible modes, wherein the adaptive antennasystem exhibits a distinct radiation pattern 101(a-d) when configured ineach of the plurality of possible modes. The network controller 40 canbe adapted to execute an algorithm 50 for determining an optimal mode ofthe adaptive antenna system 100 for a given time period, the algorithmcomprising the steps of: (i) with the first access point, surveying eachof the plurality of client devices available for communication with thenetwork, (ii) configuring the adaptive antenna system of the firstaccess point in each of the plurality of possible modes thereof, and foreach mode, measuring a channel quality indicator (CQI) associated withthe adaptive antenna system of the first access point and each of theplurality of client devices, (iii) storing, on the network, antenna modedata corresponding to each mode, device, and channel quality indicatorof the adaptive antenna system as-measured, (iv) selecting the optimalmode of the plurality of possible modes based on the antenna mode data,and (v) configuring the adaptive antenna system of the first accesspoint in the optimal mode.

The second access point 20 is shown comprising a second passive antenna200 with a fixed radiation pattern 201 a thereof. However, as discussedabove, the second antenna may alternatively comprise an adaptive antennasystem.

The adaptive antenna system may be characterized by: a radiatingelement, one or more parasitic elements positioned adjacent to theradiating element, and one or more active tuning components, each of theone or more active tuning components is coupled to one of the one ormore parasitic elements and configured to adjust a current mode of therespective parasitic element.

The active tuning components may be individually selected from the groupconsisting of: switches, tunable capacitors, tunable inductors, MEMsdevices, tunable phase shifters, and diodes.

The second access point may comprise a second adaptive antenna systembeing configurable in one of a plurality of possible second modesassociated therewith, wherein the second adaptive antenna systemexhibits a distinct radiation pattern when configured in each of theplurality of possible second modes.

The network communication system may comprise three or more accesspoints.

The optimal mode can be the one of the plurality of possible modes whichachieves maximum throughput of the network. The optimal mode may be theone of the plurality of possible modes which achieves a prioritizedthroughput according to a network preference for individual devicethroughput.

The maximum throughput may be achieved upon balancing device load amongeach of the access points on the network. The maximum throughput isachieved upon balancing device load among each channel of each of theaccess points on the network.

The antenna mode data further comprises frequency or channelinformation.

As described above, the CQI may be selected from the group consistingof: signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR), receive signalstrength indicator (RSSI), and modulation coding scheme (MCS), or othersimilar metric.

In some embodiments, a communication system comprises: a first radiofrequency transceiver operating at frequency F1; a first antenna systemcoupled to said first transceiver; a second radio frequency transceiveroperating at frequency F2; a second antenna system coupled to saidsecond transceiver; a network controller for command and control of saidfirst and second transceivers; a plurality of client devices, with eachclient device containing a transmitter, a receiver, or a transceivercapable of operation at frequency F1 or F2 or both F1 and F2; whereinthe first antenna system coupled to said first transceiver is anadaptive antenna system, with this adaptive antenna system capable ofgenerating two or more radiation modes, with each radiation modepossessing a different radiation pattern and/or polarization compared tothe other modes; and an algorithm is resident in the network controller,with said algorithm configured to control the changing of radiationmodes of the adaptive antenna system as well as the channel used by eachof the access point of the network, survey a communication link metricas the first transceiver establishes a communication link with one or aplurality of client devices utilizing the radiation modes of theadaptive antenna system, survey a communication link metric as thesecond transceiver establishes a communication link with one or aplurality of client devices, and select a radiation mode for theadaptive antenna system coupled to the first transceiver when the firsttransceiver establishes a communication link with a first client thatprovides a minimal noise level in the receiver of the second transceiverwhen the second transceiver establishes a communication link with asecond client at the same time interval.

In accordance with an embodiment of the communication system, aplurality of frequencies are available for transmission and reception;the algorithm resident in the network controller is configured tocontrol the changing of radiation modes of the adaptive antenna systemas well as the channel used by each of the access point of the network,survey a communication link metric as the first transceiver establishesa communication link with one or a plurality of client devices utilizingthe radiation modes of the adaptive antenna system, survey acommunication link metric as the second transceiver establishes acommunication link with one or a plurality of client devices, and selecta radiation mode for the adaptive antenna system coupled to the firsttransceiver when the first transceiver establishes a communication linkwith a first client that provides a minimal noise level in the receiverof the second transceiver when the second transceiver establishes acommunication link with a second client at the same time interval thesurveying of the communication link metric for the various modes isperformed at two or more frequencies, with the optimal frequencyselected for the first and second transceiver to operate on for minimalnoise level in the receiver of the first and second transceivers.

In another embodiment, the second antenna system coupled to said secondtransceiver is an adaptive antenna system, with this adaptive antennasystem capable of generating two or more radiation modes, with eachradiation mode possessing a different radiation pattern and/orpolarization compared to the other modes; the algorithm resident in thenetwork controller is configured to control the changing of radiationmodes of the first and second adaptive antenna systems as well as thechannel used by each of the access point of the network, survey acommunication link metric as the first transceiver establishes acommunication link with one or a plurality of client devices utilizingthe radiation modes of the adaptive antenna system, survey acommunication link metric as the second transceiver establishes acommunication link with one or a plurality of client devices utilizingthe radiation modes of the adaptive antenna system, and select aradiation mode for the adaptive antenna system coupled to the firsttransceiver when the first transceiver establishes a communication linkwith a first client that provides a minimal noise level in the receiverof the second transceiver when the second transceiver establishes acommunication link with a second client and select a radiation mode forthe adaptive antenna system coupled to the second transceiver when thesecond transceiver establishes a communication link with a second clientthat provides a minimal noise level in the receiver of the firsttransceiver when the first transceiver establishes a communication linkwith a first client at the same time interval; the surveying of thecommunication link metric for the various modes is performed at two ormore frequencies, with the optimal frequency selected for the first andsecond transceiver to operate on for minimal noise level in the receiverof the first and second transceivers.

In various embodiments, the communication link metric is a channelquality indicator (CQI) metric such as Signal to Interference and NoiseRatio (SINR), Receive Signal Sensitivity Indicator (RSSI), ModulationCoding Scheme (MCS), or similar metric obtained from the basebandprocessor of the communication system to provide the capability tosample radiation patterns and make a decision in regards to operating onthe optimal radiation pattern or mode based on the CQI.

The algorithm may be resident in a processor co-located with the firstor second transceiver. The algorithm may be resident in a processorco-located with the first or second adaptive antenna system.

Certain embodiments may include a plurality of transceivers of which oneor more transceivers have adaptive antenna systems coupled to them; thealgorithm resident in the network controller is configured to controlthe selection of radiation modes of all adaptive antenna systems in thecommunication system, survey communication link metrics for alltransceivers with adaptive antenna systems as the transceivers establishcommunication links with client devices utilizing the radiation modes ofthe adaptive antenna systems, and select transceiver/client pairings toestablish communication links concurrently with other transceivers inthe communication system such that minimal noise level is optimized forin the transceivers in the communication system.

Certain embodiments may otherwise include wherein the algorithm residentin the network controller is configured to control the selection ofradiation modes of all adaptive antenna systems in the communicationsystem, survey communication link metrics for all transceivers withadaptive antenna systems as the transceivers establish communicationlinks with client devices utilizing the radiation modes of the adaptiveantenna systems, and select frequency channels for said transceivers forthe transceiver/client pairings to establish communication linksconcurrently with other transceivers in the communication system suchthat minimal noise level is optimized for in the transceivers in thecommunication system.

Certain embodiments may otherwise include wherein the first and secondradio frequency transceivers operate at frequency F1. Certainembodiments may otherwise include wherein the two or more transceiverswith adaptive antenna systems operate at frequency F1.

While this disclosure contains many specifics, these should not beconstrued as limitations on the scope of an invention or of what may beclaimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particularembodiments of the invention. Certain features that are described inthis document in the context of separate embodiments can also beimplemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, variousfeatures that are described in the context of a single embodiment canalso be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in anysuitable sub-combination. Moreover, although features may be describedabove as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed assuch, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some casesbe exercised from the combination, and the claimed combination may bedirected to a sub-combination or a variation of a sub-combination.

1. A network communication system for servicing wireless communication links between each of a plurality of client devices and a network, respectively, the network communication system comprising: a first access point, a second access point, and a network controller; the first access point comprising an adaptive antenna system associated therewith, the adaptive antenna system being configurable in one of a plurality of possible modes, wherein the adaptive antenna system exhibits a distinct radiation pattern when configured in each of the plurality of possible modes; and the network controller being adapted to execute an algorithm for determining an optimal mode of the adaptive antenna system for a given time period, the algorithm comprising the steps of: with the first access point, surveying each of the plurality of client devices available for communication with the network, configuring the adaptive antenna system of the first access point in each of the plurality of possible modes thereof, and for each mode, measuring a channel quality indicator (CQI) associated with the adaptive antenna system of the first access point and each of the plurality of client devices, storing, on the network, antenna mode data corresponding to each mode, device, and channel quality indicator of the adaptive antenna system as-measured, selecting the optimal mode of the plurality of possible modes based on the antenna mode data, and configuring the adaptive antenna system of the first access point in the optimal mode.
 2. The network communication system of claim 1, wherein the adaptive antenna system is characterized by: a radiating element, one or more parasitic elements positioned adjacent to the radiating element, and one or more active tuning components, each of the one or more active tuning components is coupled to one of the one or more parasitic elements and configured to adjust a current mode of the respective parasitic element.
 3. The network communication system of claim 2, wherein the active tuning components are individually selected from the group consisting of: switches, tunable capacitors, tunable inductors, MEMs devices, tunable phase shifters, and diodes.
 4. The network communication system of claim 1, wherein the second access point comprises a second adaptive antenna system being configurable in one of a plurality of possible second modes associated therewith, wherein the second adaptive antenna system exhibits a distinct radiation pattern when configured in each of the plurality of possible second modes.
 5. The network communication system of claim 4, comprising three or more access points.
 6. The network communication system of claim 1, wherein the optimal mode is the one of the plurality of possible modes which achieves maximum throughput of the network.
 7. The network communication system of claim 6, wherein maximum throughput is achieved upon balancing device load among each of the access points on the network.
 8. The network communication system of claim 6, wherein maximum throughput is achieved upon balancing device load among each channel of each of the access points on the network.
 9. The network communication system of claim 1, wherein the antenna mode data further comprises frequency or channel information.
 10. The network communication system of claim 1, wherein the optimal mode is the one of the plurality of possible modes which achieves a prioritized throughput according to a network preference for individual device throughput.
 11. The network communication system of claim 1, wherein the CQI is selected from the group consisting of: signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR), receive signal strength indicator (RSSI), and modulation coding scheme (MCS). 